Search

Cold mix patching materials (CMPMs) present an environmentally friendly and sustainable solution for addressing road potholes, particularly during cold and wet weather conditions. While they offer cost-effectiveness and reduced ecological impact, CMPMs encounter challenges related to their mechanical and functional performance in practical applications. There is an increasing demand for higher-quality CMPMs, yet their durability tends to be relatively short-lived. This study conducted a comprehensive assessment of various CMPM variants available on the European market, such as solvent-containing mixtures (SC) and membrane-containing mixtures (MC). The investigation placed specific emphasis on critical aspects, including stability, workability, raveling, and bonding, employing both conventional and innovative testing methodologies such as Marshall stability, indirect tensile strength, Hubbard-Field stability, indentation stability, Leutner shear bond, locking point, and brush tests conducted across a spectrum of temperatures and compaction pressures. The findings indicated that mixtures with locking points ranging from 40 to 60 exhibited good to excellent workability. MC mixtures generally outperformed SC mixtures, except in terms of bonding properties. Despite achieving air voids of up to 31.7 %, their stabilities exceeded recommended values in the literature. Optimal abrasion resistance was observed with higher compaction pressure (600 kPa) and longer cure time (30 days) working in conjunction. Furthermore, increasing the compaction pressure from 200 kPa to 600 kPa resulted in a two to threefold increase in interlayer shear strength for all products.

Excessive ballasted track deformations may occur during the railway operations due to poor load bearing capacity of the embankment (placed soil or natural ground) or the manifest accumulation of subsidence caused by the soil consolidation and the passage of trains. The principles of pressure grouting (or jet-grouting) technologies, used to create reinforcement elements for the rail trackbed stabilization, are presented, with reference to the specific construction condition on an existing and in-service railway track. A single-track railway, including the superstructure and substructure components, was modeled using the finite element method (FEM). Some soil stabilization options, based on the installation of grouted micropiles according to different layout configurations, were considered. The results of the numerical analyses, in the form of stress and strain behavior of the whole track structure, demonstrated that the use of jet-grouted micropiles is a rational and less expensive option, which can be installed on or close to the track, having positive effects on limiting the vertical deformations of the embankment without affecting the expected distribution of stress states in the embankment middle.

Wearable augmented reality in neurosurgery offers significant advantages by enabling the visualization of navigation information directly on the patient, seamlessly integrating virtual data with the real surgical field. This ergonomic approach can facilitate a more intuitive understanding of spatial relationships and guidance cues, potentially reducing cognitive load and enhancing the accuracy of surgical gestures by aligning critical information with the actual anatomy in real-time. This study evaluates the benefits of a novel AR platform, VOSTARS, by comparing its targeting accuracy to that of the gold-standard electromagnetic (EM) navigation system, Medtronic StealthStation® S7®. Both systems were evaluated in phantom and human studies. In the phantom study, participants targeted 13 predefined landmarks using identical pointers to isolate system performance. In the human study, three facial landmarks were targeted in nine volunteers post-brain tumor surgery. The performance of the VOSTARS system was superior to that of the standard neuronavigator in both the phantom and human studies. In the phantom study, users achieved a median accuracy of 1.4 mm (IQR: 1.2 mm) with VOSTARS compared to 2.9 mm (IQR: 1.4 mm) with the standard neuronavigator. In the human study, the median targeting accuracy with VOSTARS was significantly better for selected landmarks in the outer eyebrow (3.7 mm vs. 6.6 mm, p = 0.05) and forehead (4.5 mm vs. 6.3 mm, p = 0.021). Although the difference for the pronasal point was not statistically significant (2.7 mm vs. 3.5 mm, p = 0.123), the trend towards improved accuracy with VOSTARS is clear. These findings suggest that the proposed AR technology has the potential to significantly improve surgical outcomes in neurosurgery.

District heating and cooling networks represent a compelling energy system solution due to their capacity to integrate renewable energies and leverage local surpluses of thermal resources. The meticulous design and optimization of network infrastructure are imperative to fully exploiting the potential of these energy systems. The Life Cycle Assessment of district heating and cooling networks for the purpose of environmental sustainability is a crucial and increasingly demanded aspect, particularly in light of the progressively stringent European regulations. The Life Cycle Assessment methodology could offer an evaluation throughout the entire life cycle of such networks. The proposed review scrutinizes the application of the Life Cycle Assessment methodology to evaluating the environmental profile of district heating and cooling systems. The methods, findings, and challenges are examined through a literature review and case study analysis. The results highlight variations in the climate profile influenced by the network generation type and multifunctionality approaches. The analysis revealed a range of emission factors, spanning from 11 gCO2eq/kWhth to 470 gCO2eq/kWhth for district heating and 6 gCO2eq/kWhth to 64 gCO2eq/kWhth for district cooling. The discussion emphasizes integrating district heating and cooling network management considerations and addressing methodological challenges. This study concludes by proposing future research directions for developing a universal LCA-based tool for district heating and cooling network analysis.

Abstract Background Initially discovered for its ability to regenerate ear holes, the Murphy Roth Large (MRL) mouse has been the subject of multiple research studies aimed at evaluating its ability to regenerate other body tissues and at deciphering the mechanisms underlying it. These enhanced abilities to regenerate, retained during adulthood, protect the MRL mouse from degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA). Here, we hypothesized that mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSC) derived from the regenerative MRL mouse could be involved in their regenerative potential through the release of pro-regenerative mediators. Method To address this hypothesis, we compared the secretome of MRL and BL6 MSC and identified several candidate molecules expressed at significantly higher levels by MRL MSC than by BL6 MSC. We selected one candidate, Plod2, and performed functional in vitro assays to evaluate its role on MRL MSC properties including metabolic profile, migration, and chondroprotective effects. To assess its contribution to MRL protection against OA, we used an experimental model for osteoarthritis induced by collagenase (CiOA). Results Among the candidate molecules highly expressed by MRL MSC, we focused our attention on procollagen-lysine,2-oxoglutarate 5-dioxygenase 2 (PLOD2). Plod2 silencing induced a decrease in the glycolytic function of MRL MSC, resulting in the alteration of their migratory and chondroprotective abilities in vitro. In vivo, we showed that Plod2 silencing in MRL MSC significantly impaired their capacity to protect mouse from developing OA. Conclusion Our results demonstrate that the chondroprotective and therapeutic properties of MRL MSC in the CiOA experimental model are in part mediated by PLOD2.

Cold mix patching materials (CMPMs) are commonly used as an alternative to hot mix asphalt (HMA) for repairing road pavement potholes, especially in cold and wet seasons. Currently, the acceptance criteria and expectations for the mechanical strength and durability of CMPMs are often compared or related to those adopted for traditional HMA pavements without considering the specific performance characteristics of CMPMs required to ensure their effectiveness. In response to this, the authors proposed innovative solutions derived from pre-existing methodologies to evaluate CMPMs. Several parameters, indicative of CMPMs' structural and functional performance, were measured to optimize the mix design and systematize the quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) process at various service life stages and under different boundary conditions. Besides the standard Marshall stability and indirect tensile strength (ITS), which were chosen as references, Hubbard-Field and indentation stability tests were reintroduced, suggesting modified procedures specifically tailored to CMPM stability evaluation. Similarly, brush, Leutner, and locking point test methods were customized for analyzing the raveling potential, bonding properties, and workability of the patching materials. The research outcome showed that Hubbard-Field and indentation stability tests provided more accurate stability assessments, even for materials unsuitable for testing using Marshall stability and ITS methods. Modified brush and Leutner tests effectively replicated real-world conditions, enhancing the relevance of laboratory findings to practical applications. Furthermore, the locking point method enabled mixture workability classification. These findings contribute to a better understanding of CMPM performance and can inform more targeted and effective road repair strategies.

The application of life cycle thinking and the life cycle assessment method is becoming increasingly important in Europe, with the decarbonization targets set by the European Commission. Electric heat pumps (vapor compression) are considered one of the most promising solutions for reducing a building's greenhouse gas emissions. Applying the life cycle assessment method could be challenging when only limited information are available. Reliable tools, for instance, power-law relationships, could be useful for the purpose. Power-law relationships were derived in this article to evaluate the environmental profile of electric heat pumps. 17 745 machines were cataloged according to data from the Italian database “Conto Termico”. 10 empirical relationships were created to correlate the mass of the appliance and the refrigerant content for different heat pump technologies (i.e., air-air, air-water, brine-water, and water-water) and refrigerant gases (i.e., R410a, R134a, and R32). The power-law relationships are proven by considering 16 environmental impact categories, based on Environmental Footprint 3.1 EN 15804 method, using deterministic and stochastic approaches. The validation process shows that correlations related to heat pump manufacturing are reliable for all impact categories, while power-refrigerant gas correlations must be used more carefully as they are affected by a more significant error.

Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) is a popular practice in the pavement industry due to environmental and economic benefits. But, RAP must be processed and treated before being reused in new pavements for preventing premature failures. A widely adopted strategy consists of adding recycling agents, and specifically rejuvenators, to mitigate the aging of the RAP binder. From the circular economy perspective, also crumb rubber (CR) from end-of-life tyres have been used to prepare binders with enhanced properties. The actual possibility of using the RAP derived from removed and/or reprocessed pavements containing CR particles (CR-RAP) for the formulation of new suitable mixtures is still a little-explored topic. Moreover, the available rejuvenators tailored on RAP have not yet evidence of effectiveness in producing asphalt mixtures containing CR-RAP. For this purpose, unaged, aged and rejuvenated blends with and without CR were studied through a rheological characterisation to evaluate the potential restoration of their physical properties when a bio-based recycling agent is added. The results of viscosity, frequency sweep, creep-recovery and multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR) tests have highlighted on the one hand the significant contribution of CR in reducing the accelerated aging effects of the binder, on the hand the effectiveness of the rejuvenator in restoring, more clearly at low temperatures, the rheological behaviour of the binders (above all for CRMB) similar to the unaged condition.

Abstract Background Planned, multidisciplinary teams’ discussions of cases are common in cancer care, but their impact on patients’ outcome is not always clear. Palliative care (PC) needs might emerge long before the last weeks of life. Many palliative care patients could be managed from the usual care staff, if appropriately trained; specialist palliative care should be provided to patients with more complex needs. Staff needs adequate training, so that only patients presenting a higher complexity are properly referred to the second level (“specialized”) PC services. In the considered hospital setting, “tumour boards” (multidisciplinary discussions) refer often to a low number of patients. Overall complexity of patients’ needs is hardly considered. Methods A mixed method pilot study with data triangulation of professionals’ interviews and an independently structured evaluation of complexity of referred patients, before and after the intervention, using the PALCOM instrument. We trained four teams of professionals to deliver first-level palliation and to refer patients with complex needs detected in multidisciplinary discussions. A multicomponent, first level PC educational intervention, including information technology’s adaptation, a training course, and bedside training was offered from the specialized PC Services, to all the HPs involved in multidisciplinary pancreas, lung, ovarian, and liver tumour boards. Results While the level of complexity of referred patients did not increase, trainees seemed to develop a better understanding of palliative care and a higher sensitivity to palliative needs. The number of referred patients increased, but patients’ complexity did not. Qualitative data showed that professionals seemed to be more aware of the complexity of PC needs. A “meaning shift” was perceived, specifically on the referral process (e.g., “when” and “for what” referring to specialist PC) and on the teams’ increased focus on patients’ needs. The training, positively received, was adapted to trainees’ needs and observations that led also to organizational modifications. Conclusions Our multicomponent intervention positively impacted the number of referrals but not the patients’ complexity (measured with the PALCOM instrument). Hospital staff does not easily recognize that patients may have PC needs significantly earlier than at the end of life.

Abstract RAS mutations prevalent in high-risk leukemia have been linked to relapse and chemotherapy resistance. Efforts to directly target RAS proteins have been largely unsuccessful. However, since RAS-mediated transformation is dependent on signaling through the RAS-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate (RAC) small GTPase, we hypothesized that targeting RAC may be an effective therapeutic approach in RAS mutated tumors. Here we describe multiple small molecules capable of inhibiting RAC activation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines. One of these, DW0254, also demonstrates promising anti-leukemic activity in RAS-mutated cells. Using chemical proteomics and biophysical methods, we identified the hydrophobic pocket of phosphodiester 6 subunit delta (PDE6D), a known RAS chaperone, as a target for this compound. Inhibition of RAS localization to the plasma membrane upon DW0254 treatment is associated with RAC inhibition through a phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/AKT-dependent mechanism. Our findings provide new insights into the importance of PDE6D-mediated transport for RAS-dependent RAC activation and leukemic cell survival.

At present, ecological and technological transition policies encourage the improvement of efficiency of engineering processes; this is the background for new methods for the digitalization of engineering works. The methodological approach of Building Information Modeling (BIM) brings a great wave of innovation, probably destined to replace previous approaches to the designing, maintenance, and management phases. The aim of this paper is to propose a methodology to apply BIM to the archaeological field (Heritage BIM - HBIM), with a focus on stone paved roads. It addresses the case study of a stretch of stone paved road located in the Archaeological Site of Pompeii in Italy. For the development of the digital model, several BIM-based tools have been used, starting from a laser scanner-based survey, which led to a point cloud that was subsequently coordinated with certain referenced points to achieve a correct geo-referenced point cloud. The corridor design process was performed by developing a Digital Terrain Model (DTM) of the paved surface and customizing the cross-section. Meanwhile, a visual programming application based on Python language was used to enrich the usability of the model itself with further operations. As result, a tool is proposed to be used in maintenance, management and restoration projects, for archaeological assets.

Abstract Background Dignity is a basic principle of palliative care and is intrinsic in the daily practice of professionals assisting individuals with incurable diseases. Dignity Therapy (DT) is a short-term intervention aimed at improving the sense of purpose, meaning and self-worth and at reducing the existential distress of patients facing advanced illness. Few studies have examined how DT works in countries of non-Anglo Saxon culture and in different real-life settings. Moreover, most studies do not provide detailed information on how DT is conducted, limiting a reliable assessment of DT protocol application and of its evaluation procedure. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a nurse-led DT intervention in advanced cancer patients receiving palliative care. Method This is a mixed-method study using before and after evaluation and semistructured interviews. Cancer patients referred to a hospital palliative care unit were recruited and provided with DT. The duration of sessions, and timeframes concerning each step of the study, were recorded, and descriptive statistical analyses were performed. The patients' dignity-related distress and feedback toward the intervention were assessed through the Patient Dignity Inventory and the Dignity Therapy Patient Feedback Questionnaire, respectively. Three nurses were interviewed on their experience in delivering the intervention, and the data were analyzed qualitatively. Results A total of 37/50 patients were enrolled (74.0%), of whom 28 (75.7%) completed the assessment. In 76.7% of cases, patients completed the intervention in the time limit scheduled in the study. No statistically significant reduction in the Patient Dignity Inventory scores was observed at the end of the intervention; most patients found DT to be helpful and satisfactory. Building opportunities for personal growth and providing holistic care emerged among the facilitators to DT implementation. Nurses also highlighted too great of a time commitment and a difficult collaboration with ward colleagues among the barriers. Conclusions Our findings strongly support the acceptability, but only partially support the feasibility, of nurse-led DT in advanced cancer patients in a hospital setting. Further research is needed on how to transfer the potential benefits of DT into clinical practice. Trial registration Retrospectively registered on ClinicalTrial.gov NCT04738305 .

The use of colored pavements for bicycle facilities represents an interesting strategy for supporting the implementation of a high-quality cycling network. The distinctive coloration of dedicated lanes, tracks or shared paths provides a clearly delineated route, making the infrastructure more attractive as well as legible and intuitive, especially through intersections and junctions. The additional emphasis resulting from the coloring enhances a change in the road users' behavior, but its safety effectiveness seems to be particularly related to several site-specific contextual features. Although some of these benefits are well established and multiple applications of colored pavements are widespread around the world, most of cycling design standards and guides, which are usually written only in the language of the country that drafted them and are often difficult to find, completely lack in technical recommendations and concepts regarding the use of color for cycling provisions. Thus, based on an extensive worldwide literature search from more than 80 official design guidelines, manuals and standards and 50 scientific articles, the authors have structured a guided overview of the state of the art/practice concerning the use of color for bike facilities at the international level, including the latest innovative and experimental schemes. The review is not intended to be a summary of manuals, but is conceived as a decision-makers’ and designers’ tool for a rational planning, construction, maintenance and management of colored cycling infrastructures, able to favor a cultural and technical interchange. After a first section in which the main locations where to use colored surfaces were highlighted (corridor or spot treatments), the commonly used colors (red, green and blue) have been identified, explaining the hierarchical and/or combined reasons (regulatory and legal limitations, visual-perceptual aspects and application/maintenance requirements) behind this choice. Finally, the different coloring techniques associated with the pavement materials have been described.

Identifying decarbonization strategies at the district level is increasingly necessary to align the development of urban projects with European climate neutrality objectives. It is well known that district heating and cooling networks are an attractive energy system solution because they permit the integration of renewable energies and local excess of hot or cold sources. The detailed design and optimization of network infrastructures are essential to achieve the full potential of this energy system. The authors conducted an attributional life cycle assessment to compare the environmental profile of five distribution network infrastructures (i.e., pipes, heat carrier fluid, trenches, heat exchangers, valves, and water pumps) based on a study case in Marseille, France. The work aims to put into perspective the environmental profile of subsystems comprising a district heating infrastructure, and compare pipe typologies that can be used to guide decision-making in eco-design processing. Rigid and flexible piping systems were compared separately. The results show that the main impact source is the pipe subsystem, followed by the trench works for most impact categories. The authors underlined the importance of pipe typology choice, which can reduce emissions by up to 80% and 77% for rigid and flexible systems, respectively.